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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Unusual bird at the feeder at the Audubon Center in Santa Fe

Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

An additional wrinkle is that this species uses willow for its larval food. That plant contains toxins, making these critters potentially distasteful.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The hypothesis for this sort of coloration is that it's disruptive - a potential predator (this usually means birds) is confused by the spots and doesn't know precisely where to attack.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

They're called "submarginal" - which is a general term for any character located in that position.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Always liked this one. My favorite is the Arizona Sisters - didn't see or photograph that one on this trip.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Weidemeyer's Admiral from my recent trip out west

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Here's a Spicebush Swallowtail to brighten your day ...

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

An April visit to Moraine View - the spring ephemeral season is compacted!

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

USMC, 1968 - 1969, RVN. Asshole-in-chief thinks it's "good" that Robert Mueller is dead ... P.S. - not my meme but I fully endorse the sentiments.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

The small fritillaries - genus Boloria - are arctic and arctic-alpine butterflies from the northern hemispere. We have at least 3 species in the mountains of northern New Mexico. I showed one earlier, here's another - the Silver-bordered Fritillary

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Another critter from N. NM - The Dark Wood Nymph

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Another butterfly from the Jicarilla Trust lands in northern New Mexico - Scudder's Sulphur; a critter that likes willow bogs in the southern Rockies

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Time for a butterfly - This is the Arctic Fritillary, found in northern New Mexico last August, on the Jicarilla Apache Trust land. It's in the genus Boloria, a group favoring Arctic-Alpine habitats.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Nice welcome when we returned from our mini-vacation.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Moon-marked Skipper from Arizona this summer. Nice to remember warmer days.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Bookends - super moon then nice sunrise

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

So ... if Trump is so upset that US Senators reminded US Military that service members are obligated to disobey unlawful orders, does that mean Trump has been giving unlawful orders? Rhetorical question of the day ...

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Another beautiful fall day ...

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Beautiful fall day at Black Partridge.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

One of my favorite rarities - the Elfoid (Microtia elvira), described in 2023. It used to be considered the Elf - Microtia elva - but DNA and morphology argued for a new species. This was taken before Elvira was described - it's from SE Arizona

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Club Mosses have been around for over 400 my. They'll probably be here long after we're gone ...

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

It's mating season for White-tailed Deer. They're kind of stupid this time of year - watch the road so you can avoid them when they jump out in front of you!

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

This is why you're supposed to dispose of used fishing line properly ...

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Well, the mammalogists seem to think it's Abert's after all ...

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

I took pictures of this squirrel in the Black Range, thinking it was Abert's Squirrel, but it didn't have the ear tufts I remember for that species. Turns out it's an Arizona Gray Squirrel, a much less common critter!

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

My favorite butterfly from my time in Viet Nam. No, I didn't take this photo in VN - it was from the butterfly pavilion at U. of FL.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

A special butterfly from NM - Silver-bordered Fritillary

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

It's the web-like markings on the wings - reminded the author of Arachne of Greek Mythology - spinning her tapestry.

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Arachne Checkerspot from the Mogollon, NM. Can you guess why it's named Arachne?

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Setting aside the criminality and immorality of the current administration, the staggering incompetence of its members should be enough to lead to its demise. That incompetence should not be a surprise; when you place people in power who despise facts and science the outcome is a foregone conclusion

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Mike Toliver @nmbutterfly.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Acorn Woodpecker from southern NM